Tell me of what plant birthday a man takes notice, and I shall tell you a good deal about his vocation, his hobbies, his hay fever, and the general level of his ecological education.

Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

For Leopold it’s the cutleaf Silphium, blooming in the corner of an old cemetery. For me, it’s the autumn crocus, blooming on my birthday (September 4). It always catches my by surprise, even though I watch for it as my birthday approaches. I didn’t see a trace of it in its usual habitat but coming home from a BBQ on Sunday night, I spotted these autumn croci springing up from the dirt.

Then on my way to work yesterday, I found them in the place I’ve grown accustomed to seeing them. With the sunlight shining on them, they truly resembled “the lamps of the ghoul,” the name the Arabs give this plant (according to Wilfrid Blunt) because they are so poisonous. Other names for them: naked nannies and bare bottoms.

So what does that say of me, that this is the plant birthday I oberve?

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Candlemas/Imbolc E-Book

On February 1/2, we celebrate the ancient festival of Candlemas (Imbolc in the Celtic tradition) with its powerful messages of hope and the potential for change. The illustrated, 45 pages portfolio contains
• ancient holiday customs of Candlemas, Imbolc, Groundhogs Day, Brigid, Sementiva, St. Agnes
• more rowdy customs from the spring full moon festivals of Lupercalia, Purim, Valentines Day and Mardi Gras
• instructions for creating candles & Brigid's crosses
• recipes for navettes, Hamantaschen, blinis, nun's ribbons, Agatha's breasts, jelly doughnuts and other rich pastries of the season
• lore of the dandelion & the snowdrop
• songs and poems
E-book (available for almost immediate download--I will send it within 24 hours of your purchase): $15.00 To order go to the Store/Holiday packets.
“I have ordered all of your holiday packets via e-mail starting with Beltane and I am in the process of ordering the Candlemas Packet. I find your information invaluable in planning and preparing for our ceremonies. You are one of the most grounded sources out there. Thank you for your information and perspective!” — Julia Rinne, Hand of Spirit

Slow Time: Recovering the Natural Rhythm of Life

My beautiful new edition of Slow Time. A new cover featuring a photograph from Cate Kerr. And a reduced price, only $14.99 instead of $19.95.
A workbook offering twelve weeks of reflections, stories and playful exercises to help readers transform their relationship with time. The book shows readers how to jump off the hamster wheel of artificial time and experience the flow and the rhythm of natural time. “To order go here.

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